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Brexit: What are the key points of the deal?

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The UK-EU trade agreement, which contains new rules for living, working and trading together, takes effect from 23:00 GMT on 31 December.

The full complicated agreement is more than 1,200 pages long, but here are some of the key points.

Trade

TRADE

What the deal says

  • There will be no taxes on goods (tariffs) or limits on the amount that can be traded (quotas) between the UK and the EU from 1 January
  • Some new checks will be introduced at borders, such as safety checks and customs declarations.
  • There are some new restrictions on certain UK animal food products. For example, uncooked meats like sausages and burgers can't enter the EU unless they are frozen to -18C.

What does that mean?

  • Having a deal in place means that the fear that some goods could become more expensive has been avoided.
  • However, businesses will still need to prepare for new procedures at ports, and if new paperwork is incomplete, it could lead to disruption.
Level playing field

SERVICES AND QUALIFICATIONS

What the deal says:

  • Businesses offering services, such as banking, architecture and accounting, will lose their automatic right of access to EU markets and will face some restrictions.
  • There will no longer be automatic recognition of professional qualifications for people such as doctors, chefs and architects.

What does that mean?

  • Rather than following one set of rules for the whole of the EU, UK businesses will need to comply with the regulations in each individual country.
  • It will be harder for people with qualifications gained in the UK to sell their services in the EU. Individuals will need to check each country's rules to make sure their qualification is still recognised.
  • However, the UK and EU have pledged to keep talking to try to improve access for the service sector in the future.
Travel

TRAVEL

What the deal says:

What does that mean?

  • The UK government says EHIC will be replaced with a new UK Global Health Insurance Card, but full details have not been released yet.
  • Pets will still be allowed in the EU, but it will be a more complicated process as owners will need to obtain an animal health certificate for each trip they make.
  • UK mobile operators will be able to charge for roaming, so people should check with their mobile phone company before travelling.
Fishing

FISHING

What the deal says:

What does that mean?

  • Fishing was the hardest and last issue to be resolved in the negotiation, and some UK fishermen are unhappy with the arrangement. The Scottish Fishermen's Federation, for example, says the deal does not give the UK enough control of its waters.
  • Starting in 2026, the UK and the EU will hold regular talks on fishing access. So there could be more heated arguments ahead.
Justice

EUROPEAN COURT OF JUSTICE AND OTHER DISPUTES

What the deal says:

  • There will be no role in the UK for the European Court of Justice (ECJ), which is the highest court in the EU.
  • Disputes that cannot be resolved between the UK and the EU will be referred to an independent tribunal instead.

What does that mean?

  • Ending the role of the ECJ was a key UK demand as Brexit supporters said it would allow the UK to "take back control" of its laws.
  • The ECJ could still have a role in Northern Ireland because it continues to follow some EU trade rules.
  • If either side moves too far away from the current rules around product standards, tariffs (charges on imports) could be imposed on some goods in the future.
Security

SECURITY AND DATA

What the deal says:

  • The UK will no longer have automatic access to key security databases, but should be able to gain access upon request.
  • The UK will not be a member of the EU's law enforcement agency, Europol, but it will have a presence at its headquarters.
  • The UK is no longer obliged to comply with EU standards of data protection, but data will continue to be exchanged in the same way for at least four months as long as the UK doesn't change its data protection rules.

What does that mean?

  • The UK's arrangement with Europol will be similar to the one the US currently has.
  • Many of the rules about storing and processing data still need be decided.
Study

EDUCATION

What the deal says:

  • The UK will no longer participate in the Erasmus exchange programme, an EU scheme that helps students study in other countries.
  • Students at universities in Northern Ireland will continue to participate in Erasmus, as part of an arrangement with the Irish government.

What does that mean?

  • Students that have already started courses in the EU will continue to receive support for fees.
  • A new scheme named after the mathematician Alan Turing will begin in September 2021. The government says it will be similar to Erasmus but will include countries across the world.